Saddled with the job of implementing new scheduling policy, Northern 4A athletic administrators also undertook the task of re-evaluating how teams qualify for the regional playoffs.

Sports across the Northern 4A have been played under a two-league format in recent years with the top four teams from each league qualifying for the postseason. However, with the Northern 4A losing three member schools — Elko, South Tahoe and Fallon — the athletic administrators adopted new formats for some sports.

Most sports remain in a two-league format, but football and baseball will play in one super league. The loss of member schools influenced administrators to cut the number of playoff qualifiers from eight down to six, in all team sports.

The top two seeds or the two league champions are set to receive first-round playoff byes.

The move by Northern 4A administrators to change playoff formatting may be putting the cart before the proverbial horse. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, the state’s governing body for prep sports, takes all ticket sales for playoff contests. Thus by cutting the number of playoff qualifiers, Northern 4A athletic administrators trimmed the number of playoff games, which in turn cuts into NIAA revenues.

NIAA Assistant Director Donnie Nelson would not say if that was the Northern 4A leaders’ decision to make. Nelson only reiterated a comment made by NIAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine.

“We’re on the 10-yard line and we’ve got 90 yards to go,” Nelson said, alluding to Bonine’s words and the NIAA’s plans to clarify postseason formatting if realignment is passed as expected next week. “Realignment has to go through first and then we need to talk with our staff and our leagues. It’s something we just haven’t done yet.

“Playoff structure will be discussed between the NIAA and our staff liaisons. I realize the leagues are discussing that right now and it sounds like the Northern 4A has been a little more pro-active at this point. But we haven’t gotten to that point.”

Ron McNutt is the Northern 4A Commissioner and a Class 4A liaison. He said playoff format is up to the North but that the NIAA could make its feelings known.

“It’s up to the North, but we may be told we have to change back to eight teams,” McNutt said. “It’s something we discussed. We didn’t put a lot of time yet into the playoff system. We just needed to get schedules done.”